(UroToday.com) National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines are changing to suggest expanded germline genetic testing for patients with either diagnosis of or family histories of genitourinary malignancies. Unfortunately, in many practice settings including the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, there are shortages of genetics service providers.
In this poster, Dr. Aiello and colleagues presented data from the implementation of an advanced practice nurse (APN) genetics provider service at a single urban VA medical center. They compared the numbers of patients referred and those who had germline genetic testing performed before and after implementation of this intervention. By embedding this APN genetics service within the oncology clinic, rates of referrals for genetic testing increased as did the percentage of referred veterans who received genetic testing. Additionally, the number of patients lost to follow-up decreased substantially in the APN service relative to the prior telegenetics service.
The authors concluded that an APN geneticist-imbedded consult service improves access to and rates of genetic counseling and testing for veterans in the VA system.
Presented by: Lisa Aiello, PhD, RN, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Written by: Alok K. Tewari, MD, PhD, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, @aloktewar on Twitter during the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium, Thursday Feb 17 – Saturday Feb 19, 2022